Drug charges are relatively common in Georgia. People who have become dependent on prescription medications and young adults experimenting with recreational substances are at risk of criminal prosecution. Anyone caught in possession of prohibited drugs or involved in distributing substances to others is at risk of criminal charges.
Prosecutors often try to bring the most serious charges that they can justify given the circumstances and may push for harsh penalties in drug crime cases. Those facing drug charges may worry about what those allegations might mean for the future. They don’t want to go to jail, and they don’t want to deal with a criminal record that follows them for life.
Some people mount a defense by taking their cases to trial. Others might hope to avoid a trial. Does the state ever dismiss pending charges after initially attempting to prosecute someone for a drug offense?
There are many paths to charge dismissal
Typically, prosecutors don’t bring charges against someone unless they believe they have adequate evidence to secure a conviction if the case goes to trial. Still, someone facing drug charges can potentially avoid going to trial in a number of different scenarios.
Those who did break the law but did so in conjunction with other people can sometimes make arrangements where they help the state develop a case. Their cooperation might lead to charge dismissal or at least reduced charges.
Sometimes, the dismissal of pending drug charges is a result of a successful defense strategy. A lawyer could claim that a police search was a violation of someone’s rights. If the courts agree, they could exclude the evidence obtained during an illegal search from criminal proceedings. That might force the prosecutor to dismiss the pending charges against the defendant.
Other times, people may qualify for adjudication in the drug courts. Those facing qualifying nonviolent drug offenses can participate in drug court proceedings intended to promote sobriety. They don’t have to go through with a standard trial as long as they complete the drug court process.
There are a variety of different solutions that can reduce the long-term harm caused by Georgia drug charges. Discussing the circumstances that led to an arrest with a skilled legal team could help someone identify the best defense strategy given their unique situation.